Method and System for Validating a Lottery Ticket Using an Encrypted Registration Code

ABSTRACT

A method for authenticating instant lottery tickets for entry into a lottery activity includes providing each lottery ticket with a validation code that links the lottery ticket to an electronic validation file in a database, wherein the validation file contains a predetermined outcome of the lottery ticket and a status of the lottery ticket. Each lottery ticket is provided with a registration code separate from the validation code, wherein the registration code is used to register the lottery ticket in the lottery activity. The registration code is generated as an encrypted form of the validation code for each respective ticket. With a server and upon receipt of the registration code for entry into the lottery activity, the registration code is decrypted to determine the validation code assigned to the lottery ticket. The validation file associated with the decrypted registration code is accessed and used to verify authenticity and status of the lottery ticket required for entry into the lottery activity.

BACKGROUND

Instant (e.g., “scratch-off”) lottery tickets are a popular lotteryproduct and a significant source of revenue for various states and othergovernmental entities. In order to increase the popularity and sales ofsuch tickets, it is becoming increasingly more common to link thetickets to activities other than the single game play embodied on theticket. For example, many states have established web-basedfunctionalities wherein a player can register the ticket for varioussecondary activities, such as second-chance drawings for losing tickets,player reward accounts wherein tickets (winning or losing) areregistered and accumulate points for subsequent exchange for value,player loyalty programs, and so forth. With these conventional programs,a web address and access code are printed on the tickets, which allowfor the player to enter a lottery sponsored site for registering theticket for the offered programs.

Other lottery games have been suggested wherein the outcome of a lotteryticket is not actually revealed to the player on the ticket, butrequires the player to access a website using a code on the ticket tolearn the win/lose status of the ticket.

With the conventional systems, the access code or a separate uniqueregistration number provided on the ticket is compared against adatabase of the complete set of tickets printed for the respective gameto achieve at least some degree of authentication of the ticket. Thismethod, however, has a significant drawback in that the lottery isvulnerable to attempts to register unsold, stolen, or even non-existenttickets. For example, a person having access to the ticket pack in aretail establishment can copy the registration codes from unsold ticketsand register the tickets to take advantage of the secondary activities(e.g., point accumulation, drawings, etc.) without ever purchasing aticket.

In another fraudulent activity referred to in the industry as “fishing”,manual or computer-implemented attacks attempt to generate random codesthat are accepted by the web-based system. For example, a person havinggeneral knowledge of the format of the access code or registrationnumber can generate and submit random codes having the same format withthe expectation that at least certain of these fraudulent codes willactually match authentic codes in the system.

The present invention provides a methodology and related system forsecurely enabling lottery related activities linked to individuallottery tickets that avoids the drawback of conventional methods andsystems discussed above.

SUMMARY

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be obvious from the description, or may belearned through practice of the invention.

In accordance with aspects of the invention, a method is provided forauthenticating instant lottery tickets for any manner of lottery-relatedactivity. Typically, the lottery tickets are delivered to retailestablishments as pre-packaged ticket packs. The lottery activity mayrelate to play of the game embodied on the ticket, web-based programs,as discussed above, as well as various secondary activities within theprogram that are unrelated to the primary game component embodied on theticket. For example, the lottery ticket may be an instant scratch-offlottery ticket wherein the primary game is completed by a playerremoving a scratch-off layer to view underlying game indicia thatreveals the predetermined win/lose status of the ticket. The web-basedprograms allow the player to enter a registration code printed on theticket into the program via an Internet-enabled device to register theticket for any manner of secondary activities, such as a second-chancedrawing for losing tickets, accumulation of points in a rewards program,enhanced status in a loyalty program, and so forth. It should be readilyappreciated that the present method is not limited to any particularformat or style of lottery activity or web-based program, or associatedsecondary activities linked to a ticket within the program.

The method includes providing each lottery ticket with a validation codethat links the lottery ticket to an electronic validation file in adatabase, such as a database maintained by the lottery authority (e.g.,a state lottery authority) or by a lottery service provider contractedby the lottery authority. The validation file containing a predeterminedoutcome of the lottery ticket and a status of the lottery ticket. Thevalidation code may be in barcode and/or alpha-numeric form. Thevalidation file linked to the ticket contains the highly-secure win/losestatus of the ticket, as well as other pertinent information necessaryfor accountability of the ticket and redemption of winning tickets, asunderstood by those skilled in the art.

The method includes providing each lottery ticket with a registrationcode separate from the validation code, wherein the registration code isused to register the lottery ticket in a lottery activity. Theregistration code is generated as an encrypted form of the validationcode for each respective ticket. With a server and upon receipt of theregistration code for entry into the lottery activity, the registrationcode is decrypted to determine the validation code assigned to thelottery ticket. The present methodology does not create or require aseparate library of registration codes at the server. The validationfile associated with the decrypted registration code is accessed andused to verify authenticity and status of the lottery ticket requiredfor entry into the lottery activity. For example, an authenticvalidation code and associated validation file are proof that an actuallottery ticket is being registered in the lottery activity, and not aphantom “fishing” ticket. The validation file may also contain a statusflag indicating that the lottery ticket was properly delivered to itsintended retail establishment and “activated” in the system as ready forsale. The validation file may also include a “sold” status flagindicating that the ticket was actually sold after it was activated. Allor any combination of these status indicators may be required by thesystem prior to accepting the registration code for entry into thelottery activity.

The encrypted format of the registration code (e.g., the encryptedvalidation code) is a substantial deterrent to fraudulent attempts toflood the web-based program with computer generated codes in the“fishing” scenario. Without access to the encryption key, the fraudsterhas relatively no chance of randomly formatting acceptable orrecognizable registration codes.

In one embodiment, the lottery activity is a game embodied on thelottery ticket, wherein the results of the game are revealed to a playerupon entering the registration code into a web-based game site. The gameembodied on the lottery ticket may be the primary game where gameindicia is provided on the lottery ticket and whether or not the gameindicia entitles the player to a prize is revealed at the web-based gamesite upon the player entering the registration code. Alternatively, theprimary game may have the game result revealed to the player on thelottery ticket, wherein the lottery activity is a secondary game havinga result revealed to the player via the web-based game site upon theplayer entering the registration code.

In an alternate embodiment, the lottery activity is a web-based programof secondary activities unrelated to play of a game embodied on thelottery ticket, wherein a player enters the registration code into aweb-based program to participate in the secondary activities.

As mentioned, the particular types of secondary activities in theweb-based program are non-limiting aspects of the invention. In aparticular embodiment, one such activity may be a second-chance drawingfor losing lottery tickets only, wherein a losing status of the lotteryticket is confirmed by the validation file associated with the decryptedweb access code.

The present invention also encompasses various embodiments of a lotteryticket having game indicia printed thereon for play of a game embodiedon the lottery ticket. A unique validation code is printed on a face ofthe ticket, wherein the validation code links the lottery ticket to anelectronic validation file for the ticket stored in a database. Thevalidation file contains a predetermined win/lose outcome of the ticket.A separate unique registration code is printed on the same or adifferent face of the ticket, wherein the registration code is as anencrypted version of the validation code assigned to the lottery ticket.With this ticket configuration, upon receipt of the registration code bya lottery server, the registration code is decrypted to the validationcode that is then used to access the validation file associated with thelottery ticket to determine authenticity or status of the lotteryticket.

In one embodiment, the lottery ticket is an instant lottery ticket andthe game indicia relates to play of a primary game having resultsrevealed on the lottery ticket. The registration code may be used toauthenticate the ticket for participation in a web-based program ofsecondary activities separate from the primary game.

In certain embodiments, a printed notice may be provided on the lotteryticket adjacent the registration code informing a holder of the ticketthat ticket must have been previously purchased to enter the ticket inthe web-based program or other lottery activity. A notice may also beprovided informing a holder of the ticket that the registration code isencrypted.

In another embodiment, the lottery ticket is an instant lottery ticketand the game indicia relates to play of a primary game having resultsrevealed to a player upon subsequent entry of the registration code at aweb-based game site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure including the best mode of practicing theappended claims and directed to one of ordinary skill in the art is setforth more particularly in the remainder of the specification. Thespecification makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a method and associated lottery tickets inaccordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a depiction of an alternate embodiment of a lottery ticket;

FIG. 3 is a depiction of yet another embodiment of a lottery ticket;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method in accordance withaspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system and associated methodology stepsin accordance with aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various and alternativeexemplary embodiments and to the accompanying drawings, with likenumerals representing substantially identical structural elements. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation, and not as a limitation. Infact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modificationsand variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe disclosure and claims. For instance, features illustrated ordescribed as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment toyield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the presentdisclosure includes modifications and variations as come within thescope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 depicts aspects of a method 100 in accordance with the inventionfor authenticating instant lottery tickets 200 for entry into a lotteryactivity 210. In the depicted embodiment, the lottery activity 210relates to a web-based program that links the tickets 200 to any mannerof secondary activities 212 within the program 210, such as asecond-chance drawing, accumulation of reward points, participation in aloyalty program, and so forth.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the lottery tickets 200 may be any mannerof instant scratch-off lottery tickets wherein the primary gamecomponent is embodied on a front side 201 of the ticket and completed bya player removing a scratch-off layer 204 to view underlying gameindicia 208 that reveals the predetermined win/lose status of theticket. Any manner of game instruction indicia 206 related to theprimary scratch-off game component is provided on the ticket. Indicia208 related to the web-based program 210 may also be provided on thefront side 201, as well as on the back side 203 of the ticket. Thisindicia 208 instructs the holder of the ticket 200 on how to registerthe ticket 200 in the web-based program using a registration code 220.Thus, in this embodiment, the lottery activity relates to secondaryactivities provided in the web-based program, such as play of anadditional game or accumulation of reward points.

In the lottery ticket embodiment of FIG. 2, the outcome of the instantgame is not revealed to the player on the ticket 200. Indicia 206 and208 instructs the player to access a website using a registration code220 to match the game indicia 202 to winning combinations revealed onthe website. Thus, in this embodiment, the lottery activity relates todetermining the outcome of the primary game embodied on the lotteryticket 200.

In the lottery ticket embodiment of FIG. 3, the outcome of the primarygame is revealed to the player by the ticket 200. Indicia 208 instructsthe player to register the ticket using registration code 220 tocomplete an additional or secondary game embodied on the ticket. Thus,in this embodiment, the lottery activity relates to a secondary gamethat is started on the ticket 200 and completed at the lottery website.

Referring to FIG. 4, at step 102, each lottery ticket 200 is providedwith a unique validation code 214 (FIGS. 1-3) that links the respectivelottery ticket 200 to an electronic validation file 218 in a database,such as a database 215 maintained by the lottery authority server 226(e.g., a state lottery authority) or by a lottery service provider 224contracted by the lottery authority. The validation code 214 may be abarcode, QR-code, alphanumeric code, or other machine readable code, forexample on the front side 201 of the ticket. As in generally understoodin the art, the validation file 218 linked to the ticket 200 containsthe highly-secure win/lose status of the ticket, as well as otherpertinent information necessary for verifying authenticity andaccountability of the ticket 200, as well as redemption of winningtickets.

Step 104 depicts that an encrypted form of the validation code 214provided on each respective ticket is generated and, at step 106, isprovided on each ticket as a separate registration code 220, for exampleon the back side 203 of the ticket 200 (or any other location on theticket 200). Any manner of conventional encryption algorithm ortechnique can be used in generation of the registration codes 220, whichmay also be presented in a barcode, QR code, or alphanumeric format, asdepicted in FIG. 1. As discussed above, the holder of the ticket isprovided with instructions 208 to enter the registration code 220 via awebsite to register the lottery ticket 200 for the related lotteryactivity 210, such as the web-based program of secondary activities 212,for example by the holder scanning the barcode version or entering thealphanumeric version via a mobile smart device that is in communicationwith the server(s) 224, 228 via a wireless communication network 234,such as the Internet.

At step 108, upon receipt of the encrypted registration code 220, theserver 224 for the lottery service provider decrypts the code 220 todetermine the validation code. The server 224 may maintain thevalidation files 218 liked to the validation codes 214 or may haveaccess to the validation files 218 maintained by the lottery authorityserver 226. In an alternate embodiment, the registration codes 220 maybe received and decrypted by the lottery authority server 226, whereinthe server 226 has its own set of validation files 218, or the relevantinformation from the validation file 218 linked to a decodedregistration code 220 is forwarded from the lottery service providerserver 224. It should be appreciated that the present method 100 is notlimited to any particular configuration or relationship between theserver(s) that may be used to implement a lottery game between a lotteryauthority (e.g., a state or other jurisdictional lottery authority) anda lottery service provider (e.g., Scientific Games, International, Inc.,having a principal place of business in Alpharetta, Ga.).

FIG. 1 depicts a separate web program server 228 associated with thelottery service provider server 224 for administering the lotteryactivity 210. This server 224, or the functions performed thereby, maybe an integral functional component of the server 224.

At step 110, the respective server 224, 226 accesses the validation file218 associated with the decrypted registration code 220. At step 112,information in the validation file 218 is then used to verifyauthenticity and status of the lottery ticket 220 required for a validentry into the lottery activity 210. For example, an authenticvalidation code 214 and associated validation file 218 are proof that anactual lottery ticket is being registered in a web-based program 212,and not a phantom “fishing” ticket. The validation file 218 may alsocontain a status flag indicating that the lottery ticket 200 wasproperly delivered to its intended retail establishment and “activated”in the system as “ready for sale.” The validation file 218 may alsoinclude a “sold” status flag indicating that the ticket 200 was actuallysold after it was activated. All or any combination of these statusindicators may be required by the system prior to accepting theregistration code for entry into the web-based program.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention also encompasses variousembodiments of a lottery ticket 200 having game indicia thereon, asdiscussed above. The lottery ticket 200 is configured for use in alottery activity 210 by registering the unique encrypted registrationcode 220 via a website. The lottery activity may relate to the primarygame embodied on the ticket 200, such as revealing the outcome of theticket, or to a web-based program that links player participation insecondary activities 212 separate from the primary game to the lotteryticket 200. An embodiment of such a ticket includes game indicia 202 forplay of the primary game, such as any manner of instant scratch-offgame. A unique validation code 214 is printed on a face 201 of theticket (e.g., the back or front of the ticket), wherein the validationcode 214 links the lottery ticket 200 to an electronic validation file218 for the ticket stored in a database 215, such as database associatedwith a service provider server 224 or lottery authority server 226. Theseparate unique registration code 220 is printed on the same or adifferent face 203 of the ticket 200 that enables a player to registerthe lottery ticket in the web-based program 210 via a web enableddevice, such as a mobile smart device, a personal computer, and soforth.

The registration code 220 is printed on the ticket 200 as an encryptedversion of the unique validation code 214 assigned to the lottery ticket200. With this ticket configuration, upon receipt of the registrationcode 220 by a lottery server 224, 226, the registration code 220 isdecrypted to reveal the validation code 214, which is then used toaccess the validation file 218 associated with the lottery ticket 200 todetermine an authentic status of the lottery ticket required for entryinto the web-based program 210.

In a certain embodiment, the lottery ticket 200 may include a printednotice 232 adjacent the registration code 220 informing a holder of theticket that the registration code 220 is encrypted. Likewise, the ticket200 may include a printed notice 230 informing a holder of the ticketthat ticket must have been previously purchased to enter the ticket inthe web-based program 210.

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of a system 10 and related methodology fordispensing lottery tickets 14 (corresponding to the tickets 200discussed above configured for the web-based program) at a retailestablishment 12, such as a retail store, convenience store, pub,restaurant, or the like, authorized by a lottery authority (e.g. a statelottery authority such as the Connecticut State Lottery or any othergovernmental jurisdictional authority) to carry out lottery activitiesadministered by a lottery provider (e.g., Scientific Games,International, Inc., having a principal place of business in Alpharetta,Ga.), such as the sale of instant scratch-off tickets or terminalprinted draw tickets for games such as Powerball™.

Although not limited to such, the present system 10 has particularusefulness for larger retail establishments, such as “big-box” retailstores that are part of a national or other geographic chain. In FIG. 5,three separate retail establishments 12 are depicted, with details givenfor one the establishments. This is for illustrative purposes only. Itshould be appreciated that the invention encompasses a single retailestablishment 12, as well as a multitude of establishments 12, asdiscussed in greater detail below.

The retail establishment 12 typically includes one or more retailpoint-of-sale (POS) registers 18 wherein patrons of the establishment 12purchase goods 52. Typically, a scanner 50 is associated with the POSregister 18 to scan a UPC code on the products 52, with the UPC codelinked to a purchase price and identification of the products 52, as iswell-known in the art.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a lottery ticket terminal 20 is configuredin wired or wireless communication with the retail POS register 18 toaccept a request for purchase of a particular lottery ticket 14 selectedfrom a plurality of different lottery tickets made available to patronsfor purchase. This request may be input directly to the terminal 20 orcome via the POS register 18, as discussed in greater below. The lotterytickets 14 may be, for example, conventional instant scratch-off lotterytickets. Various types of lottery ticket terminals are known in the artand suitable for configuration with a system 10 in accordance with theinvention. For example, Scientific Games Corporation having a principalplace of business in Alpharetta, Ga., USA, offers Flair™ and Wave™lottery ticket terminals that may be readily configured by those skilledin the art for a system as described herein. A patron's request for aparticular scratch-off lottery ticket may be inputted into the lotteryticket terminal 20 by a retail clerk or other employee of the retailestablishment 12 by various means. For example, the terminal 20 may beconfigured with a scanner, wherein the clerk scans a “master” having acode corresponding to the particular lottery ticket 14 requested by thepatron. Thus, a master would be provided for each type of lottery ticket14 offered by the establishment 12. In another embodiment, the terminal20 may be configured with a touch-screen, keyboard, or other data inputdevice, wherein the clerk enters or identifies the ticket 14 requestedby the patron.

Still referring to the embodiment of FIG. 5, a “smart” lottery ticketdispenser array 22 is in wired or wireless communication with theterminal 20. This dispenser array 22 may include one or a plurality ofindividual lottery ticket bins 24, with each bin 24 typically containinga different respective lottery ticket game. For example, one bin maycontain “Lucky 7” themed scratch-off lottery tickets 14, while anadjacent bin may contain “Gold Rush” themed scratch-off lottery tickets14, and so forth.

Each lottery ticket 14 in the different bins 24 includes a uniquemachine readable code 16 printed thereon, such as a bar code, QR code,or the like. This code 16 may be the validation code 214 discussedabove, or a different identifying code, such as a serial number. Thetype of code 16 may vary depending on the desired information content ofthe code 14, space on the ticket 14, and so forth. The use of such codes16 on lottery tickets 14 for various functions related to inventory,identification, verification, and security are well-known.

Individual ticket packs 56 are delivered to the retail establishment 12.A scanner is associated with the array 22 to read a pack code 57associated with the pack 56 of lottery tickets upon loading of the pack56 into the array 22. This code 57 may be, for example, a single code 57provided with the packaging of the ticket pack. With this embodiment,the scanner 53 provided at or near the lottery terminal 20 may be usedto scan the ticket pack code 57 and transmit the code 57 directly to thelottery central server 34 or through the bin controller 38. In analternate embodiment, the pack code may be the ticket code 16 on thelead ticket 14 in the pack 56, which can also be scanned by the terminalscanner 50 or an individual bin scanner 40 associated with each bin inthe array 22 and transmitted to the lottery central server 34 via thebin controller 38. For purposes of the present invention, it is notabsolutely necessary that the individual bin 24 in which new ticketpacks 56 are loaded be identified, but only the bin array 22. Thus, itmany embodiments, the terminal-scanner 50 (which is not associated withany particular bin 24 within the array 24) will suffice for the functioninitially activating the tickets 14 within a ticket pact 56 to the“ready for sale” status discussed above.

In operation of the system 10 depicted in FIG. 5, the lottery ticketterminal 20 transmits a purchase signal 30 for dispensing a particularlottery ticket 14 that is routed to the respective bin 24 within thedispenser array 22 containing the requested lottery ticket. Thispurchase signal 30 may be sent to a bin controller 38 associated withthe dispenser array 22, with the controller 38 generating a dispensesignal that is routed to the proper bin 24 to activate the drivemechanism 26 and dispense the requisite number of lottery tickets 14from the bin 24. In essence, the bin controller 38 functions as a signalrouter for the array 22 that ensures that the signal 30 is routed to thecorrect bin 24.

FIG. 5 also depicts an alternate embodiment wherein the purchase signal30 is generated by the POS register 18 and transmitted to the bincontroller 38 after the POS register 18 receives a purchase code 33 fromthe lottery ticket terminal 20 corresponding to the particular ticketrequested by the patron.

As the tickets 14 are dispensed from the bin 24, the scanner 40 readsthe code 16 printed on each ticket. A signal 32 corresponding to thescanned code is generated and routed to a central lottery server 34(which may correspond to the server 224 depicted in FIG. 1) for eachlottery ticket dispensed from the dispenser array 22. In the embodimentof FIG. 3, this signal 32 is generated and transmitted by the bincontroller 38, but may also be generated and transmitted by the lotteryticket terminal 20. As mentioned, the code 16 printed on each ticketcontains identifying information unique to the ticket, much akin to aserial number assigned to each ticket, and the signal 32 transmitted tothe central server 34 enables actions relevant to the sale/dispensing ofthe individual tickets 14, as well as entry of the tickets into theweb-based program as discussed above.

The central lottery server 34 may include a database 43 (which maycorrespond to the database 215 of validation files 218 in FIG. 1) of alltickets delivered to the respective retail establishments 12, and thenear instantaneous identification of dispensed/sold lottery tickets 14to the server 34 enables various desired functionalities. For example,the individual lottery tickets 14 may remain in a “ready for sale”status upon activation of the ticket packs 56, as discussed above, andonly upon generation of a purchase signal 30 and the scanned ticketsignal 32 transmitted to the central server 34 is the status of theindividual tickets changed in the database 43 (e.g., in the validationfile 218 associated with the respective ticket) to “sold” (or similarfunctional status). The present method may include limiting subsequentredemption or entry of the lottery tickets 14 into the lottery activity210 to only tickets that have this “sold” status in the database 43.Thus, fraudulently obtained tickets (e.g., stolen or otherwise illegallyobtained) cannot be redeemed. This is contrary to a conventionalpractice of activating entire books (“packs”) of tickets upon deliveryto a retail establishment 12.

The present system 10 and associated method allows for enhancedaccountability and crediting of lottery tickets 14 sold at a particularretail establishment 12 by logging each ticket as it is sold anddispensed. For example, the number of tickets 14 sold during a workshift (or other time period) is easily determined by generating a reportby the central server 34 of the tickets flagged as sold at any of theretail establishments during any defined time period. The number oftickets 14 sold at any of the retail establishments 12 can be readilyreconciled with tickets (e.g., ticket packs) delivered to theestablishment. Likewise, the number of tickets 14 dispensed during adefined time can be readily and electronically reconciled with reportedpurchase transactions from the respective establishment 12, withdiscrepancies being immediately identified for further investigation.

Another particular advantage of the system 10 and associated method isthat billing practices between the retail establishments 12, the lotteryauthority, and the lottery provider can be based on real-time sales ofthe lottery tickets 14. For example, the retail establishments 12 can beinvoiced on a periodic basis (e.g., daily or weekly) for the actualnumber of tickets sold (dispensed) at each respective establishmentbased on the signals 32 routed to the central lottery server 34 insteadof upon delivery and activation of ticket packs (or other paymentmethodology typically in use today).

Another useful function enabled by the present system 10 and associatedmethods is detection of “gaps” in the sequential numbering of thelottery tickets 14 flagged as sold with the central server 34 from arespective ticket pack 56. Such gaps indicate an improper disposal orpossible theft of the missing tickets 14, which the central server 34can immediately report to the central retail establishment server forfurther investigation/reconciliation.

The term “server” is used herein to encompass any configuration ofcomputer hardware and software that is maintained by a lottery authorityor game provider to carry out the functionalities of the present system10 and associated method, as well as any manner of additional lotteryfunctions known to those skilled in the art. It should be readilyappreciated that the server 34 in FIG. 3 (and servers 224, 226 inFIG. 1) may include an integrated server, or any manner of peripheryserver or other hardware structure. The central lottery server 34 istypically remote from the retail establishments 12, and is incommunication with the establishments 12 via a suitable securecommunication network, which may include any manner of wide areanetwork, wireless internet, or cloud computing. The server 34 may be asingle networked computer, or a series of interconnected computershaving access to the communications network via a gateway or other knownnetworking system. Generally, the server 34 is configured to communicatewith, manage, execute and control individual lottery terminal units 20within the lottery jurisdiction. The server 34 may be a “front end”server provided by the lottery game provider that is interfaced with theexisting draw/instant game system infrastructure one or more separatelottery authorities. The server 34 may include a memory for storinggaming procedures and routines, a microprocessor (MP) for executing thestored programs, a random access memory (RAM) and an input/output (I/O)bus. These devices may be multiplexed together via a common bus, or mayeach be directly connected via dedicated communications lines, dependingon the needs of the system 100.

The server 34 may be directly or indirectly connected through an I/O busto any manner of peripheral devices such as storage devices, wirelessadaptors, printers, and the like. In addition, a database (DB) may becommunicatively connected to the server 34 and provide a data repositoryfor the storage and correlation of information gathered from theindividual dispenser arrays 22, such as the identity of each lotteryticket 14 dispensed from the array, the time of the dispense sequence,confirmation of ticket activation, and so forth.

It should be appreciated that embodiments of the methods and systems 10disclosed herein may be executed by one or more suitable networkedlottery gaming components and establishment components (e.g., POSregister 18, back office server 46) within a plurality of theestablishments 12, as well as the remote central server 34. Such gamingsystems and computing devices may access one or more computer-readablemedia that embody computer-readable instructions which, when executed byat least one computer, cause the computer(s) to implement one or moreembodiments of the methods of the present subject matter. Additionallyor alternatively, the computing device(s) may comprise circuitry thatrenders the device(s) operative to implement one or more of the methodsof the present subject matter. Furthermore, components of thepresently-disclosed technology may be implemented using one or morecomputer-readable media.

As mentioned above, aspects of the present system 10 and methods 100rely on the transmission of data over one or more communicationsnetworks. It should be appreciated that network communications cancomprise sending and/or receiving information over one or more networksof various forms. For example, a network can comprise a dial-in, publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), a local area network (LAN), wide areanetwork (WAN), the Internet, an intranet or other type of network. Anetwork may comprise any number and/or combination of hard-wired,wireless, or other communication links.

Referring again to FIG. 5, for embodiments wherein the retailestablishments 12 are part of a chain and are operated under thedirection of a central office or organization, the central lotteryserver 34 may be in communication with a central retail server 44 (e.g.,a “home office”) that is common to such establishments 12. The centrallottery server 34 may provide ticket accountability and billinginformation 48 based on real-time sales of the lottery tickets 14 atscheduled times to the central retail server 44 based on lottery tickets14 dispensed during defined time periods. The dispensed tickets may havealso been activated during the same time period and, as used herein“dispensed” includes tickets that are also activated by the centrallottery server 34. For example, the central lottery server 34 mayprovide to the central retail server 44 a detailed accounting of thenumber of tickets sold at each individual retail establishment 12 duringa defined time period. The lottery server 34 may also provideaccountability information related to the number of tickets 14 dispensedversus the number of tickets delivered to each respective establishment,including particularly identifying discrepancies between the number oftickets delivered and the number of tickets dispensed. At its end, thecentral retail server 44 can compare the number of tickets 14 reportedas dispensed to the sales transactions at the respective establishment12 (reported via a back office server 46 associated with eachestablishment 12 or directly from the POS registers 18) over the sametime period

Each retail establishment 12 may include a respective back office server46 in communication with the retail POS register 18, wherein the centrallottery server 34 may also provide accountability and billinginformation directly to the individual back office servers 46 (asindicated in FIG. 2) based on lottery tickets 14 dispensed at therespective retail establishment 12 during defined time periods.

As mentioned above, the system 10 may be configured with a bincontroller 38 that is integrated with the dispenser array 22 or remotefrom the array 22. This bin controller 38 controls the various functionsof the dispenser array 22, including receiving and routing the purchasesignals 30 from the lottery ticket terminal 20 or POS register 18 to thecorrect bins 24, and communicating with the central lottery server 34and/or the retail establishment back officer server 46 directly or viathe central lottery server 34.

The material particularly shown and described above is not meant to belimiting, but instead serves to show and teach various exemplaryimplementations of the present subject matter. As set forth in theattached claims, the scope of the present invention includes bothcombinations and sub-combinations of various features discussed herein,along with such variations and modifications as would occur to a personof skill in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for authenticating instant lotterytickets, the method comprising: providing each lottery ticket with avalidation code that links the lottery ticket to an electronicvalidation file in a database, the validation file containing apredetermined outcome of the lottery ticket and a status of the lotteryticket; providing each lottery ticket with a registration code separatefrom the validation code, wherein the registration code is used toregister the lottery ticket in a lottery activity; providing theregistration code as an encrypted form of the validation code for eachrespective ticket; with a sever and upon receipt of the registrationcode for entry into the lottery activity, decrypting the registrationcode to determine the validation code assigned to the lottery ticket;and accessing the validation file associated with the decryptedregistration code and using the validation file to verify authenticityand status of the lottery ticket required for entry into the lotteryactivity.
 2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the lottery activity is agame embodied on the lottery ticket, with the results of the game arerevealed to a player upon entering the registration code into aweb-based game site.
 3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the gameembodied on the lottery ticket is a primary game where game indicia isprovided on the lottery ticket and whether or not the game indiciaentitles the player to a prize is revealed at the web-based game siteupon the player entering the registration code.
 4. The method as inclaim 2, wherein the lottery ticket contains a primary game having aresult revealed to the player on the lottery ticket, the lotteryactivity being a secondary game having a result revealed to the playervia the web-based game site upon the player entering the registrationcode.
 5. The method as in claim 1, wherein the lottery activity is aweb-based program of secondary activities unrelated to play of a gameembodied on the lottery ticket, wherein a player enters the registrationcode into a web-based program to participate in the secondaryactivities.
 6. A lottery ticket, comprising: game indicia printedthereon for play of a game embodied on the lottery ticket; a uniquevalidation code printed on a face of the ticket, the validation codelinking the lottery ticket to an electronic validation file for theticket stored in a database, wherein the validation file contains apredetermined win/lose status of the ticket; a separate uniqueregistration code printed on the same or a different face of the ticket,wherein the registration code is as an encrypted version of thevalidation code assigned to the lottery ticket; and wherein upon receiptof the registration code by a lottery server, the registration code isdecrypted to the validation code that is used to access the validationfile associated with the lottery ticket to determine authenticity orstatus of the lottery ticket.
 7. The lottery ticket as in claim 6,wherein the lottery ticket is an instant lottery ticket and the gameindicia relates to play of a primary game having results revealed on thelottery ticket.
 8. The lottery ticket as in claim 7, wherein theregistration code authenticates the ticket for participation in aweb-based program of secondary activities separate from the primarygame.
 9. The lottery ticket as in claim 8, further comprising a printednotice on the lottery ticket adjacent the registration code informing aholder of the ticket that ticket must have been previously purchased toenter the ticket in the web-based program.
 10. The lottery ticket as inclaim 6, wherein the lottery ticket is an instant lottery ticket and thegame indicia relates to play of a primary game having results revealedto a player upon subsequent entry of the registration code at aweb-based game site.
 11. The lottery ticket as in claim 6, wherein theregistration code and validation code are printed on opposite faces ofthe lottery ticket.
 12. The lottery ticket as in claim 6, furthercomprising a printed notice on the lottery ticket adjacent theregistration code informing a holder of the ticket that the registrationcode is encrypted.